Blistering.com: What drew you to the concept of A Clockwork Orange?
Kisser: We’re very big fans of the movie. It’s a classic. Very special and powerful and I’m familiar with the story and consequences. Since we did theDante XXI album that was inspired by a book, we went onto movies and in Brazil, we have soundtracks. It’s great to write music for a movie and you get more creative and the more limitations you have [with the storyline], the more creative you get. In the movies, you have to respect the director and certain scenes, storyline, so you do stuff you normally wouldn’t do. We have to do more with less.
Blistering.com: Jean’s work is pretty impressive on “Filthy Rot” and “What I Do!” What does he bring to the table?
Kisser: Jean’s a phenomenal musician, an amazing musician. He’s much younger than us and is a big Sepultura fans. He knows our music, respects Igor’s playing and drumming. He’s a great guy; very musical, talented and the chemistry we have right now is very unique. We jam a lot and like to play different styles. Most of the stuff came from jamming and most of what is on the album, came from us jamming in the practice room.
Blistering.com: Was it hard to adapt to someone new?
Kisser: Actually, no. Jean is not out to replace Igor. He’s not going to copy Igor in certain spots and that’s fine – I know Igor is not there [laughs]. We’re just working with a guy that has a different background and influences and stuff like that. Of course, Igor was in the band for so long, but Jean has been in the band for three years, so I think that transition phase has passed.
Blistering.com: Is there any resentment toward the new lineup in Brazil? In North America, it seems the old lineup is that all people want to concern themselves when it comes to Sepultura.
Kisser: Everywhere we feel very positive vibrations. Max has played a lot more in America than us, so his point of view was spread much more in the press. I guess that’s normal, it’s propaganda. Max is crazy – he says crazy stuff in interviews, contradicts himself a lot and you can never count on what he says, so I guess people are confused. People can say or think whatever they want, but I wish we could have done without that. We are going to have the chance to go back to America. This album is really strong and the reaction has been strong as well. I’ve been doing a lot of interviews with people in the United States and it’s been very positive. People have to listen to the music with an open mind and ears and not with all the gossip and politics and bullshit. Sepultura is something that is alive. It’s not something that stopped in ’95 or ’96. We create this band everyday.
Blistering.com: Is there a sense of pride knowing you were the first Brazilian metal band out of the gate?
Kisser: Yeah, it’s cool to do something unique and special. We took our time to achieve our sound. On Chaos A.D., that’s where we achieved it. On Arise, people were still comparing us to Slayer, which is fine, whatever, but on that album we found our way. It’s great to be linked to those bands and be influenced by them. And we’re still here. We have 25 years of history and doing stuff, being relevant and doing what we do.
Blistering.com: Do you brace yourself with every interview you do for the question regarding a Sepultura reunion?
Kisser: Definitely [laughs]. Since Max left, it’s been going on and when Igor left…even more so. Some people make up the pressure for us to do it, but there’s nothing to it – we’re not interested in it all. We’re very focused on what we’re doing now and that’s because we want to lead and do whatever we want. I don’t understand all of this bullshit. We’re very alive and looking toward the future – we’re not plastic people.
Blistering.com: Along those lines, do you think had you decided to be more vocal about the split, there would have been more focus on this version of Sepultura?
Kisser: I don’t buy that stuff. Max is crazy and doesn’t make any sense and can change from month to month. There’s nothing good about it and there’s one version of the story and we have ours and we know what happened. We’re not into revising history or telling a story regarding what happened. Only time will tell. Talk is cheap. You can say whatever you want, but your actions and ability to do things, that’s what counts. We’ll do it. We’re not talking [laughs].